Royals slammed for dining with ‘tyrant’ King of Bahrain at Diamond Jubilee lunch

The Queen has attracted strong criticism today for dining with the King of Bahrain, whose regime is accused of a number of human rights abuses.

Royals from around the world have come to the London to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (Picture: PA)

The monarch hosted a luncheon with the Middle East ruler to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, and Princes William and Harry and Kate Middleton were also in attendance at the reception.Anti-monarchy group Republic has accused Bahrain’s government, which is led by the royal family, of using violence to oppress pro-democracy protests last year.Other controversial foreign royals were also in attendance at the Windsor Castle event, which was supposed to be a rare meeting of various monarchs to mark the Queen’s 60 years on the throne.

Queen Elizabeth II greets the King of Bahrain at a lunch for Sovereign Monarch’s held in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Berkshire. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 18, 2012. See PA story ROYAL Jubilee . Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Guests included the former prime minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah, who left his post after accusations of corruption, Swaziland’s King Mswati III, and Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Britain.

Republic’s chief executive Graham Smith said: ‘This is a catastrophic error of judgment that has already prompted a fierce backlash.

‘The Queen’s decision to personally invite these tyrants to lunch sends an appalling message to the world, and seriously damages Britain’s reputation.

‘Thanks to the Queen’s misjudgement, her jubilee will forever be associated with some of the most repressive regimes in the world.’

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talk to Prince Harry before the reception in the Waterloo Chamber (Picture: John Stillwell/PA Wire)